At first glance, this equation seems almost too easy: 2 × 2 + 2 × 4 = ? But before giving your answer, take a closer look. Many people solve it incorrectly because they forget one of the most basic rules of mathematics: the order of operations.

Using PEMDAS or BODMAS, multiplication is completed before addition. That means we should not simply work through the equation from left to right. Instead, we first solve each multiplication problem separately.

Start with the first multiplication: 2 × 2 = 4. Then solve the second one: 2 × 4 = 8. Once both multiplication operations are complete, the original equation becomes 4 + 8.

Now there is only one operation remaining: addition. Calculate 4 + 8, and the answer is 12. So if you followed the standard order of operations, the correct answer is 12—not 16.

The puzzle may look like a test of quick mental math, but the real challenge is remembering the rules before jumping to a conclusion. Did you get 12 on your first try, or did the puzzle manage to fool you?